Rooibos tea health benefits

The benefits of Rooibos tea are well known to the peoples in South Africa where the tea has been consumed for ages. But despite folk wisdom up to this date there is little empirical evidence that Rooibos tea can have an impact on human health. All the tests and studies are conducted in vitro or on mice at best.

A first ever study on humans has been conducted lately in South Africa. The focus of the trial was on the possible role of Rooibos tea on alleviating and possibly preventing some cardiovascular diseased. Those being the major cause of death in the western world.

The study was conducted in South Africa’s Oxidative Stress Research Centre at Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Cape Town. It comprised 40 individuals aged betweed 30 and 60 years. Each individual had some cardiovascular disease related factors ( smoking, increased cholesterol, increased blood pressure, increased body-mass index,…).

The participants ingested 6 cups of Rooibos tea per day. The cup of tea was standardized to deliver the exact amount of beneficial substances. To keep the trial conditions under control the participants were required to follow a strict diet to reduce significant antioxidant intake from other food sources.

The preliminary results of the trial are encouraging. The participants had an average 21% decrease in lipid peroxidation products, substances that accumulate in the human body as a result of oxidation of fats. Those substances are directly related to the rise of vascular diseases.

The full report will be released sometime at the end of this year but the first results show that Rooibos tea might have an important role in keeping cardiovascular health in check.

Source:
herbalgram.org

What follows is a short recap of the latest analysis of rooibos tea. The red tea has shown some surprising qualities for athetes and active people in general. In many cases it can replace the minerals and electrolytes in the body that were lost during exercise. Some South African athletes even use it as a fluid replacement.

• Sodium : 6,10mg
• Copper : 0.07mg
• Zinc : 0.04mg
• Manganese: 0.04mg
• Fluoride : 0.22mg
• Magnesium : 1.57mg
• Potassium : 7.12mg
• Iron: 0.07mg
• Calcium : 1.08mg

Particularly worth of note are the amounts of Calcium, Fluoride and Magnesium, three elements that are indispensable for healthy teeth and bones.

Another welcome health benefit of Rooibos is the very low tannins levels that don’t obstruct the absorbtion of Iron in the blood stream.

This amazing product of nature can offer us so much. Here are 5 reasons why you cannot let a day pass without at least one cup of rooibos.

1. Tastes great!

I’ve heard so many people say Green tea is so healthy but i can’t stand the taste. Well belive me you won’t have this excuse with Rooibos.

2. Is sweet by itself.

As a bonus to your health you don’t need sugar with it. For all you sweet tooths out there…

3. Contains may times the antioxidants of Green tea or any other tea.

That is correct. Studies have shown that nothing can beat Rooibos as content of antioxidants goes. Fights cancer cells, regenerates the skin, keeps you young,… Is your kettle on yet?

4. Minerals.

For all the active people. The body needs minerals as it needs vitamins and water. More so when you are physically active. So instead of you isotonic reach for that cup of Organic Rooibos. It feels great especially in the winter months.

5. Calming and soothing.

Naturally caffeine free it gives you all its health benefits while it relives nervous tension, headaches and insomnia.

Very often we find ourselves puzzled by the wisdom of nature. Herbs and weeds are offered to us in abundance at every step to alleviate pain, to soothe us and to help with our sleep. On the other hand it is not surprising that this lore slips us westerners by. So we turn for this wisdom to people who live in a different world in a different time frame. Where conversations last for weeks where meals are cooked for an entire day and where weeds are carefully selected, hand picked and left to dry in the sun we find the indigenous peoples of various lands who can teach us volumes about our bodies and the true way of life.

Turning again to the Kohi tribe in south Africa we find that rooibos is not only an amazing beverage from which our health can benefit. From the extract of rooibos the natives have been making all sorts of preparations used for the care of the body.

A cup of rooibos added to one’s daily bath can alleviate all kinds of skin problems. From eczema and psoriasis to itching and general skin dryness. Even healthy skin can benefit.

In later years we find more and more cosmetic products with rooibos extract. Soaps, lotions, shampoos available on the shelves of specialized stores from around the world promoting the benefits of rooibos

Rooibos has come a long way from an unknown herb being used by an isolated tribe to the place it deserves among teas and now cosmetics. And I’m sure that with the scientific research going on well soon find some new interesting ways to benefit from this amazing plant.

Welcome!

Starting today we start you this new site to offer useful information and news about Rooibos tea. In particular well be focusing on the health benefits of rooibos.

Following shortly we’ll be publishing some very promising results from recent researches and studies focused on the various benefits of Rooibos tea on the human body and metabolism.

So welcome again, take a look around and come back for more insights on this excuisite and fragrant beverage from south Africa.